Pinocchio (2022) (Exclusive Series) (Disney Plus)

Initial release date: September 8, 2022

Studios: Disney Plus/Walt Disney Pictures/Image Movers

Tagline: Being real is in your heart.

Plot: A puppet is brought to life by a fairy who assigns him to lead a virtuous life in order to become a real boy.

Cast

Tom Hanks - Geppetto

Joseph Gordon-Levitt - Jiminy Crickett

Benjamin Evan Ainsworth - Pinocchio

Angus Wright - Signore Rizzi

Cynthia Errivo - Blue Fairy

Sheila Atm - Signora Vitelli

Lorraine Bracco - Sofia

Keegan-Michael Key - Honest John

Giuseppe Battiston - Stromboli

Jaquita Ta'le - Sabina

Lewin Lloyd - Lampwick

Luke Evans - Coachman

Writer(s): Robert Zemeckis (The Witches; Welcome to Marawan)

Chris Weisz (The Mountain Between Us)

Carlo Collodi (based on 'The Adventures of Pinocchio' by)

Director: Robert Zemeckis

Rated PG for peril/scary moments, rude material and some language (105 minutes)

The live-action Disney remakes that the studio has been releasing over the last several years have been a very mixed bag. Some of them have been really decent, while others haven't really been that the best. The latest live action adaptation of an animated classic is right in between decent and not so decent.

Most of the visual effects in the 2022 remake are not bad and the acting from some of the voice talent, along with Tom Hanks, did a fine job. And child actor Benjamin Evan Ainsworth actually sounds a lot like the Pinocchio in the 1940 animated classic. There are a few moments that can be a little on the emotional side and can make you feel a bit nostalgic since a lot of us have seen the classic animated film at some point in our lives.

Other than that, it was kind of on the okay side. It just didn't have the magical feeling that was in the 1940 feature and the animated classic will always be a classic for years to come. But, this remake I don't think will be as renowned as the animated adaptation. Kids may enjoy this remake. But, for anyone who has grown up watching the 1940 film may prefer that film to the remake.

You can stream both the remake and the animated classic on Disney Plus!

Here are a few interesting tidbits for the 'Pinocchio' remake:

• The film opens with Jiminy Crickett singing a bit of "When You Wish Upon A Star," the official Disney fanfare. That song had originated from the 1940 original.

• The painted castle backdrop seen in Stromboli's puppet show is the 'Sleeping Beauty' castle.

• This will be Levitt's third Disney film after 'Angels in the Outfield' and 'Treasure Planet.'

• In 1985, Jim Henson and director Steve Barron (TMNT 1990) approached Walt Disney Pictures with the idea of a live action version of 'Pinocchio,' but Disney turned down the project - Bannon still managed to make a 1996 adaptation 'The Adventure of Pinocchio', distributed by New Line Cinema.

• On April 8, 2018, it was announced that Walt Disney Pictures is developing a live action adaptation of the 1940 animated classic.

• On October 29, 2019, it was reported that Disney was considering releasing the film on Disney Plus due to the disappointment of its 2019 remake of 'Dumbo,' though it was reported that a "theatrical release seems more likely" after the hiring of Zemeckis.

• On December 9, 2020, the film was officially announced to be moving back to the streaming platform instead of theatrical.